TORTOISES. 47 
stances, breed there. If it is wished that they should propagate 
their kind, a pair, at least, of the same species should be chosen, 
the female larger than the male. In many species of Tortoises 
the male may be known by its concave plastron, and by its 
longer tail. When the female wishes to lay her eggs, with her 
powerful feet she will probably scrape a hole in the earth toa 
depth of from 4in. to 6in. and about the same in. diameter, and 
then after depositing her eggs in the little pit she has made, will 
cover them up, flattening the ground above them so neatly, that, 
unless the exact place is known, it will be no easy matter to find 
where she has hidden her treasures. As soon as the eggs are 
laid they should be unearthed and gently re-buried in fine, loose, 
moist sand, and put under the influence of heat, not less than 
75deg. and not greater than 90deg. A forcing frame, or some 
such contrivance, will do well for this purpose. The eggs ought 
to hatch in from eight to ten weeks (the eggs of Freshwater 
Tortoises take much longer) according to the regularity and 
the amount of heat by which they have been surrounded. The 
young should be kept, for some little time, in the same place 
in which they were hatched ; that is to say, until they have got 
into the habit of feeding freely, and theu they may be gradually 
brought to endure a colder temperature. 
Tortoises will not hibernate if kept in a warmed greenhouse 
during the winter months, and provided during that time with 
a regular supply of suitable food. This applies to both Land and 
Water Tortoises. The former eat lettuces, cabbages, lucerne, 
grass, dandelions (particularly the flowers), spirzea, gooseberries, 
strawberries, currants, peas, and similar food. They dislike rain, 
and do not care to remain for long in very hot rays of the sun. 
They soon become tame, and many will learn to know the person 
who provides them reguiarly with food. Their eyesight is very 
keen, but their ears seem to be anything but acute. They are 
strangely persevering and by no means void of intelligence. I 
have tried to see if one would walk off a table (I should have 
caught him had he fallen), but as soon as he got near enough to 
look over the edge he altered his direction ; this he always did. 
Dr. Giinther says that Land Tortoises are the worst swimmers 
of all the Reptiles except the Chameleon. Small Land Tortoises 
